British man gets probation in KBR bribery scheme

HOUSTON 
A British man has been sentenced to probation for helping a former Halliburton Co. subsidiary steer massive bribes to Nigerian officials to win more than $6 billion in construction contracts.

Wojciech Chodan (VOY'chehk choh-DAN') was sentenced Wednesday in Houston federal court to one year of unsupervised probation and fined $20,000.

In a plea agreement, the 74-year-old admitted that from 1994 through 2004 he helped Houston-based KBR bribe the Nigerian government to obtain contracts for liquefied natural gas facilities.

Chodan faced up to five years in prison for one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He pleaded guilty in December 2010.

Two others who also pleaded guilty in the bribery scheme - ex-KBR CEO Albert "Jack" Stanley and a British lawyer - are to be sentenced Thursday.